Understanding Emphysema: Treatment Options and Home Care Tips
Emphysema Is my father’s emphysema commonly referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? Recently, there have been reports that emphysema can be treated with bronchial unidirectional valves. Which hospitals in the country offer this treatment? If there are none av...
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
"Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition characterized by airflow obstruction caused by chronic bronchitis or emphysema. This airflow obstruction typically progresses slowly, and pulmonary function tests show a reduction in the forced expiratory volume th...[Read More] Understanding Emphysema: Treatment Options and Home Care Tips
Understanding the Link Between Masturbation and Asthma Attacks
Causes of asthma Hello, Doctor. I have had asthma since I was one and a half years old. I was hospitalized several times during elementary school due to asthma attacks. Now that I am nineteen, my condition has improved significantly over the past few years. I rarely experience as...
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
Based on your symptoms, it appears to be typical asthma. The most common triggers for asthma include dust mites, while other triggers can include indoor and outdoor air pollutants, changes in environmental temperature or humidity, exercise, cold air, and intense emotional fluctua...[Read More] Understanding the Link Between Masturbation and Asthma Attacks
Chronic Cough and Phlegm: Understanding Long-Term Respiratory Issues
Chronic productive cough? Hello Dr. Chang, I have been coughing up phlegm and experiencing a persistent cough for four years. I didn't like going to the doctor before, so I delayed seeking treatment, thinking the condition would resolve on its own. My symptoms are as follo...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Hello: There are many causes for chronic cough and sputum production, which require evaluation by a physician for differential diagnosis. Generally, a physical examination along with a chest X-ray and sputum analysis can help identify the underlying cause. It is recommended to fi...[Read More] Chronic Cough and Phlegm: Understanding Long-Term Respiratory Issues
Can Bronchiectasis Be Cured with Medical Treatment? Insights and Options
Can bronchiectasis be cured with medical treatment? Hello Dr. Tsai: I am currently suffering from bronchiectasis and have been under treatment by my physician for six months, but the symptoms still persist. I would like to ask Dr. Tsai if it is possible to fully recover from bron...
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
Bronchiectasis refers to the abnormal and permanent dilation of the bronchi. In patients with this condition, the airways become distorted and lax, often obstructed by thick, and sometimes purulent, secretions, leading to prominent clinical symptoms such as productive cough and d...[Read More] Can Bronchiectasis Be Cured with Medical Treatment? Insights and Options
Understanding Allergies and Asthma: Symptoms and Treatment Options
Allergy? Asthma? Hello Doctor: This situation has troubled me for a long time, as I have had this issue since childhood. When I was younger, the problem was not very noticeable, so I did not pay much attention to it. I often cough during climate changes, especially from autumn to...
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
The most common symptoms of asthma include wheezing and chest tightness. Sometimes, patients may experience a feeling of breathlessness and difficulty breathing. Coughing is also a frequent symptom of asthma and may be the only symptom during an asthma attack. Here are five types...[Read More] Understanding Allergies and Asthma: Symptoms and Treatment Options
Understanding Bronchiectasis: Symptoms, Treatment, and When to Seek Help
Bronchiectasis Hello Doctor: I have been diagnosed with bronchiectasis accompanied by non-tuberculous mycobacteria, and I occasionally experience hemoptysis. I started taking erythromycin three weeks ago, one tablet daily; recently, it seems that my sputum production has decrease...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Dear Patient: If you have bronchiectasis, it is very likely that you will experience respiratory symptoms, regardless of whether or not you have non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection. If your symptoms worsen or if you experience an increase in hemoptysis, you may return for an ...[Read More] Understanding Bronchiectasis: Symptoms, Treatment, and When to Seek Help
Chronic Cough in My Mom: What Specialist Should We Consult?
Please provide more details about your mother's condition so I can assist you better? My mother has been coughing for many years, and it is not due to a cold. When she coughs, it lasts for several minutes as she tries to expel the phlegm from her throat. She has gone to the ...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Dear Mr. Chiu: Your mother has been coughing for many years, and if her chest X-ray is normal, it essentially rules out more than 90% of pulmonary diseases. Other causes of chronic cough include: 1. Allergic bronchitis or asthma, for which pulmonary function tests may be consider...[Read More] Chronic Cough in My Mom: What Specialist Should We Consult?
Persistent Coughing: Understanding Acute Bronchitis Symptoms and Concerns
Persistent cough? Hello Dr. Jiang: My mother has been coughing for over 10 days now, and she has phlegm that is white. She has seen a doctor and had an X-ray done, but the doctor said it is acute bronchitis. However, I looked up the symptoms of acute bronchitis online, which incl...
Dr. Jiang Rongren Reply:
If there is a cough with sputum and fever, respiratory infection should still be considered. If there is only a cough, many conditions can present similarly (such as bronchitis, tumors, asthma, tuberculosis, and other infections that may not necessarily cause fever). It is recomm...[Read More] Persistent Coughing: Understanding Acute Bronchitis Symptoms and Concerns
Understanding Blood in Sputum: Causes and Diagnostic Insights
Hemoptysis My mother has a persistent cough and experienced hemoptysis at the beginning of the year. Since then, she has been coughing up blood in her first sputum every morning. She has visited several ENT specialists, but no issues were found in her nasopharynx. She also underw...
Dr. Xu Jialin Reply:
First, it is important to clarify whether the blood is in the saliva or in the sputum. If there is blood in the saliva, it may originate from the nasopharynx or oral cavity, such as nasopharyngeal cancer, gingivitis, or oral cancer, among others. If the blood is in the sputum, it...[Read More] Understanding Blood in Sputum: Causes and Diagnostic Insights
Understanding Chronic Cough: Causes, Management, and Prevention Tips
Cough in patients with brain disorders? Hello Dr. Yang, I have been experiencing coughing symptoms for over four years. During this time, it has been intermittent. About three years ago, I underwent an examination at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and the results were no...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, Xiao Guo: Your chronic cough has the following four conditions: 1. Chronic pharyngitis, allergic rhinitis, or post-nasal drip. It may be necessary to consult an otolaryngologist, or you should develop a habit of drinking more water daily. 2. Allergic bronchitis, which tend...[Read More] Understanding Chronic Cough: Causes, Management, and Prevention Tips
Understanding Post-Pneumonia Symptoms: Causes and Concerns
Questions about pneumonia~ Four years ago, I had pneumonia, and after recovering, I didn't return for a follow-up appointment about a month later (not fully healed). Since then, whenever I engage in even a little exercise or when the temperature is slightly higher, I experie...
Dr. Guo Lucheng Reply:
These symptoms should not be related to the pneumonia from four years ago. You may have other thoracic conditions, such as asthma, that require further evaluation at a pulmonology clinic. Sincerely, Guo Lucheng.[Read More] Understanding Post-Pneumonia Symptoms: Causes and Concerns
Understanding Chronic Bronchitis: Symptoms and Management Tips
Chronic bronchitis Chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and discomfort in the throat with a sensation of phlegm being stuck.
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, your issue may be related to the heart or lungs, or it could simply be due to a hectic lifestyle and increased stress. It is recommended that you visit a teaching hospital's pulmonary department, where a physician will order relevant tests based on your condition to h...[Read More] Understanding Chronic Bronchitis: Symptoms and Management Tips
Understanding Chronic Bronchitis: Symptoms and Management Tips
Chronic bronchitis Chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and a sensation of mucus stuck in the throat.
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, your issue may be related to the heart or lungs, or it could simply be due to a fast-paced lifestyle and increased stress. It is recommended that you visit a teaching hospital's pulmonary department, where a physician will order relevant tests based on your condition ...[Read More] Understanding Chronic Bronchitis: Symptoms and Management Tips
Managing Theophylline Side Effects: When to Adjust Your Dosage
125 mg Theophylline Hello Dr. Jian: Due to prolonged recurrent colds, I developed bronchitis. After taking the bronchodilator prescribed by my doctor, I experienced nausea, dizziness, and palpitations. Given these adverse reactions, can I continue taking the medication, or should...
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
THEOPHYLLINE has only a mild bronchodilator effect and has a narrow safety margin. The most common cardiac side effects are sinus tachycardia and ventricular ectopy. Elevated blood levels can lead to nausea, vomiting, tremors, tachycardia, and seizures. Additionally, even at norm...[Read More] Managing Theophylline Side Effects: When to Adjust Your Dosage
Understanding Unexplained Asthma: Causes, Transmission, and Treatment
Asthma of unknown origin? Hello Dr. Jian, I have a few questions to ask: 1. What causes asthma of unknown origin, considering that I do not smoke? 2. Is bronchiectasis contagious? 3. Can asthma be completely cured?
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
1. Asthma is a recurrent airflow obstruction disorder that can resolve spontaneously or improve with appropriate treatment. Depending on its severity, it may present with symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing; some asthma patients may also ...[Read More] Understanding Unexplained Asthma: Causes, Transmission, and Treatment
Managing Chronic Bronchitis: Treatment, Duration, and Side Effects
Chronic bronchitis Dear Doctor: Is chronic bronchitis treatable? How long does it take? If one takes medication and bronchodilators for chronic bronchitis over a long period, will it affect other organs in the body? Will it also impact fertility?
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello Vivian: Chronic bronchitis is defined as a cough that lasts for more than three months each year for at least two consecutive years. It typically occurs in individuals over the age of 35 who are smokers. Clinically, the diagnosis is characterized by difficulty breathing and...[Read More] Managing Chronic Bronchitis: Treatment, Duration, and Side Effects
Understanding Elevated ESR Levels After Pneumonia: What You Need to Know
ESR index! Hello Doctor: I previously had pneumonia, and it has been over a month since then. However, my cough symptoms have not improved. A few days ago, I had a blood test, and the doctor said my ESR value is 65, indicating inflammation. Additionally, the X-ray appears to show...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello Allen: The X-ray appears to indicate bronchitis, which suggests that the lung inflammation is not too severe anymore! You have already been treated with antibiotics, and it may be difficult to identify the pathogenic bacteria through further cultures. Please continue to be ...[Read More] Understanding Elevated ESR Levels After Pneumonia: What You Need to Know
Understanding Lung Issues: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Care Tips
Regarding lung issues? Hello Doctor, I experienced coughing up blood in January of this year after staying up late for two consecutive days and went to the emergency room. The X-ray results were normal, but a CT scan showed a white shadow in one area of my right lung. After takin...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello John: Your diagnosis should be bronchiectasis with hemoptysis. If your chest pain does not show any significant abnormalities on the chest X-ray, then neuropathic pain is a more likely diagnosis. Currently, Western medicine would generally prescribe pain relievers, hemostat...[Read More] Understanding Lung Issues: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Care Tips
Understanding Hemoptysis: Key Considerations for Patients Abroad
Recently, I have been coughing up blood? Dr. Yang: Hello! I experienced hemoptysis several times last year, and after a CT scan, the doctor informed me that there is fibrosis in the bronchus near my heart, advising me to avoid catching a cold as much as possible. Recently, I have...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello Amy: As you mentioned, the computed tomography scan revealed fibrosis in the bronchi near your heart, indicating that there are no tumors or cavitary changes associated with tuberculosis in your lungs. Your diagnosis leans towards bronchiectasis, which may result in increas...[Read More] Understanding Hemoptysis: Key Considerations for Patients Abroad
Understanding Moderate Restrictive Ventilatory Impairment: Causes and Management
Moderate restrictive ventilatory impairment? Dear Dr. Yang: I underwent a pulmonary function test during my health check-up, and the report indicates that I have moderate restrictive ventilatory impairment. What does this mean? Do I need treatment or follow-up?
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello Ross, pulmonary function tests are helpful in understanding whether there are any obstructive issues with ventilation. Generally, they can be classified into (1) obstructive ventilatory disorders, which include asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis, and ...[Read More] Understanding Moderate Restrictive Ventilatory Impairment: Causes and Management